This thesis investigates the phenomenon of polarization within the context of a deliberative democracy, where public discourse is perceived as increasingly extreme. By examining belief and...Show moreThis thesis investigates the phenomenon of polarization within the context of a deliberative democracy, where public discourse is perceived as increasingly extreme. By examining belief and affective polarization, the study highlights both the harmful and beneficial outcomes of this intensification of opposing views. On one hand, polarization can destabilize democratic endeavors and undermine social cohesion; on the other hand, it serves as an effective strategy for addressing societal injustices and promoting social change. The research draws on the philosophies of John Rawls and Seyla Benhabib to explore these dynamics, identifying gaps in their approaches to address the complexity of polarization. To minimize the negative effects while preserving the positive aspects, the article proposes fostering political virtues such as mutual respect and self-reflection. Using the polarized debate on transgender rights in the Dutch House of Representatives as a case study, the research illustrates how these virtues can enhance reasoned discourse, genuine cooperation, and mutual understanding without undermining the valuable disagreement that advances social progress. The study emphasizes the need for a regulated public sphere, such as citizen assemblies, in order to promote these political virtues and facilitate reasoned discourse.Show less
Indonesia is experiencing a phenomenon that is called the moral turn. Increasingly, people are aiming to regulate the moralities of others and their private lives. This trend is happening at the...Show moreIndonesia is experiencing a phenomenon that is called the moral turn. Increasingly, people are aiming to regulate the moralities of others and their private lives. This trend is happening at the same time as others, like polarization. By analysing three pieces of recent (proposed) legislation that are examples of the moral turn (the Family Resilience Bill, the Sexual Violence Bill and the Criminal Code), I look at whether and to what extent the moral turn is polarizing Indonesian society. In the end, I argue that the moral turn in Indonesia has highlighted the divisions between pluralists, nationalists and liberalist on the one hand and moralists and Islamists on the other, but that it has most importantly brought these groups together as they came to several agreements around the legislative debates.Show less
Using new data from the MeerKAT Galaxy Cluster Legacy Survey (MGCLS), a Faraday rotation study is presented of the Abell 85 magnetic field structure. A rotation measure (RM) grid of 58 deg−2 was...Show moreUsing new data from the MeerKAT Galaxy Cluster Legacy Survey (MGCLS), a Faraday rotation study is presented of the Abell 85 magnetic field structure. A rotation measure (RM) grid of 58 deg−2 was constructed using linearly polarized background and intracluster sources. Radial RM and depolarization profiles were then constructed that are close to discerning between magnetic field models within a single cluster. In the south east of Abell 85, a region of high (σRM > 20 rad m−2) depolarization was found that coincides with a stream of subclusters falling into the center of Abell 85. The MGCLS was found to be highly capable for performing Faraday rotation analysis with a more than tenfold increase in RM grid density and a twofold increase in fit parameter precision compared to the Jansky Very Large Array (VLA). The constraints and quality of the MGCLS data for Faraday rotation studies were investigated through basic source simulations and a comparison with results from the VLA. A limit was identified in its depolarization range of (σRM ∼ 35 rad m−2), in addition to systematiShow less
Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
open access
2017-04-16T00:00:00Z
González, Verkuyten, Weesie, and Poppe (2008) used the integrated threat theory to examine prejudice among Dutch adolescents. This study expanded this research and examined whether the integrated...Show moreGonzález, Verkuyten, Weesie, and Poppe (2008) used the integrated threat theory to examine prejudice among Dutch adolescents. This study expanded this research and examined whether the integrated threat theory is a valid model for both Dutch adolescents (n = 777) and Islamic adolescents (n = 307). Of the Dutch adolescents, 30% indicated having negative attitudes towards Muslims, while 10% of the Islamic adolescents indicated negative attitudes towards the Dutch population. Structural equation modeling indicated that the integrated threat theory is a valid model for both groups. Intergroup anxiety appeared to be the most prominent predictor of negative attitudes, followed by realistic threats and stereotypes. Symbolic threat appeared to be the least prominent factor, for Islamic adolescents not related to negative attitudes at all. Many of the threats mediated the relation between distal variables such as perceived status differences, perceived conflict, contact and willingness for contact, negative experiences and endorsement of multiculturalism. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.Show less
